Sworded Affair

Emma stayed outside of the family tent for a while after returning, and even did a few more loops in the sky nearby, but there were no more fortuitous encounters to be found. It was still the first day, and most of the attendees were not quite as prompt, so it was only their servants scurrying around the campsite to prepare for their arrival. Eventually, she headed back inside, finding Noah at the dining table, working through a thick stack of forms. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found.

[There's more value to be gained in coming early if you already know people here, since you can arrange to meet up in advance. In all likelihood, Elizabeth will be meeting up with friends every day until the Solstice. The two of you won't have the same reach until next year, since this is your debut.]

If that's the case, couldn't we have waited until the day of the Solstice to come? Emma complained, albeit only in her mind, so as to avoid disturbing Noah's work.

[Not under your own power. At the end of the allotted days for practitioners to arrive, the pathways are sealed, and thereafter only magi and masters will be permitted entry. There's a way for you to bypass this, thanks to the particulars of the Damned Apostle class, but Noah would be left high and dry.]

Wonderful.

[Don't worry, there will be a few things to keep you busy before the main event, but they're by invitation only, so you need to wait for them to take the initiative and approach you. From now until the Solstice, take the day to relax, and be alert from nightfall, because that's when the real action happens.]

They even wait until night time to send the invitations? Emma double-checked, gobsmacked.

[Oh yes, it's very important to wait until the right time. Midsummer is a celebration of summer and of light. In keeping with tradition, there is no place for secrecy beneath the sun's glow during this period, as it's a time for relaxation and reconciliation. Accordingly, any meetings held during daylight will be strictly social gatherings, with the discussion of business entirely forbidden.]

No point inviting anybody new, in that case, Emma acknowledged. There'd be nothing to do except small talk for hours on end.

[Precisely. Best you become nocturnal for the next week, because only under cover of darkness can intrigue thrive.]

Dad seems to be staying up though?

[Noah is still mostly focused on the mundane realities of management. While he possesses magic, his lack of ambition beyond rebuilding Oxford means that few will approach him. Really, he's mostly here as Elizabeth's plus one, otherwise he'd have stayed behind entirely. You, on the other hand, are a lot more involved in this part of the world.]

Huh. Alright then, I guess I'm going to bed early today.

Strictly speaking, Emma had no need to sleep in her armoured form, but she could still head to her room, lie down, clear her mind and sink into a restful state much akin to meditation, which was exactly what she did.

—

21:30

[You have three invitations for Night 1 of the festivities!]

Emma's eyes opened at the notification, one that came barely ten minutes past sunset.

"They sure didn't waste any time with the invitations," Emma deadpanned.

[There are only so many nights until the Solstice, so it's inevitable that many scheduled events will overlap. Invitations which go out early have the best chance of getting people to commit.]

Emma grunted at that, but didn't dispute the obvious, instead bringing up her inbox to see just what she was getting into.

[Spill the Tea: Enjoy the latest sweet treats from England's top patisseries, the hottest gossip, and the deadliest toxins straight from the cauldrons of Nergal. Bring your finest dress and your life insurance for an event that's to die for…]

Emma trailed off, incredulous, before immediately deleting the event. As eye-catching as it was, there were far too many problems for her to consider taking part: from the fact that she couldn't eat in her strongest form, to a total disdain for gossip, and of course the high risk of death, this simply wasn't the event for her.

[Heart of Glass: One hour, one block of glass, and your best enchantments. Show what you can do with an inanimate object, before letting them loose into a randomised tournament bracket, where only one can make it all the way. One thousand Thrones entry fee per person, winner takes all!]

Emma was far more enthused with this entry, both in regard to the subject matter as well as the chance to make some money. Unfortunately, looking over her status page, she couldn't see much that would be of use in the given scenario.

"Do you think I'd be able to make a glass candle?" Emma asked hopefully.

[No.]

"Damnit," she sighed. "Alright, let's take a look at the last option then."

[Lord of the Fly: The finest test of technical combat capability! Every contestant has their consciousness transferred into a standardised human body to compete in a massive battle royale. No magic, no assistance, just a battle to the death for guts and glory! Entry fee of 100 Thrones applicable, to pay for the artificial body and mind transfer formation. There is no cash prize, because it's not about the money, it's about sending a message.]

"That's the one," Emma decided immediately, expanding the message to bring up further details.

There wasn't much, just a crude map of the campsite that pointed to the entrance tent, but that was fine by her. The Monitor Lizard was summoned again, this time with instructions to stay in the bedroom, before Emma herself left the tent at a jog.

[Feeling bloodthirsty tonight, are we?]

"Everything I've fought recently has been some superpowered menace," Emma retorted. "It'll be nice to get back to basics, as well as test out what Sectmaster Horizon taught me."

[Indeed. Also, you missed a left.]

Cursing aloud, Emma corrected herself midstep, passing through a sea of identical tents towards her destination.